New state laws take effect

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, January 2, 2008

A new year means new laws in Connecticut, and several went into effect Jan. 1.

Among the handful of new laws is one that places stricter restrictions on the use of the term "massage therapy."

In May, the Connecticut Senate unanimously approved Bill 140, which prohibits anyone other than a licensed massage therapist from using the titles "masseuse," "masseur," and "massage therapy."

"We don't want businesses that engage in illegal activity to use the same verbiage used by legitimate industry members," said state Sen. Bob Duff, D-25, majority whip, who worked on the bill for more than two years. "Over the past two years, we've crafted legislation that not only will ensure that the legitimate massage therapy industry in this state is preserved, but will also help to protect our neighborhoods and families from businesses that are operating under false pretenses."

Other new legislation includes increased regulation of weigh stations on state highways. Weigh station personnel must maintain logs for each shift about hours of operation, number of vehicles inspected and the types and number of citations issued.

"This is extremely important because what we found in the past was the Department of Public Safety wasn't keeping good logs so we were unable to figure out how effective the weigh stations are, who and what they are pulling over and what they're finding at various hours of the day and how that all ties into money being spent to operate them," Duff said.

Carol Leighton, chairwoman of the Citizens Transportation Lobby, along with her co-chairwoman Jill Kelly, pushed this legislation forward after discovering that an audit of the weigh stations in 2003 found the stations weren't being used properly.

"The audit found that the reports collected at these stations only had approximated information and that, ultimately, we weren't being protected (on our roadways) as we hoped we were," Leighton said.

She and Kelly met with legislators and drafted an early form of the legislation that was passed last year.

"Now we just have to find out if the legislation is being followed the way it is supposed to be," Leighton said.

Energy efficiency was also a major component of 2008 legislation.

Among the new legislation is a law that targets the fuel efficiency of all state vehicles, requiring that the state's fleet must have a fuel efficiency rating in the top third of vehicles in its class, and that between Jan. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2009, at least 50 percent of vehicles purchased by the state must be hybrid, alternatively fueled or plug-ins.

Residents of Connecticut who purchase hybrid vehicles with fuel efficiency of at least 40 gallons or more will also continue to receive a sales tax exemption.

These initiatives are important not only from an environmental standpoint, but also from a money saving standpoint, said state Rep. Chris Perone, D-137.

"I'm very pleased that our state is purchasing more hybrid vehicles, particularly given the pollution in this area," Perone said. "As far as the tax incentives, I drive a Prius and I think that initiatives such as these might make other people think twice about purchasing a hybrid vehicle when it comes time to purchase a car."

Jill Bodach is a features and general assignment reporter. She may be reached at (203) 354-1046 or jbodach@thehour.com.